Bugatti Rimac vs Pagani: Founders, CEOs and History
Bugatti Rimac was founded in 2021 by Mate Rimac, Ettore Bugatti and is led by Mate Rimac. Pagani was founded in 1992 by Horacio Pagani and is led by Horacio Pagani.
Company facts
Bugatti Rimac
- Founded
- 2021
- Headquarters
- Sveta Nedelja, Zagreb County, Croatia
- Current CEO
- Mate Rimac
Pagani
- Founded
- 1992
- Headquarters
- San Cesario sul Panaro, Modena, Italy
- Current CEO
- Horacio Pagani
- Employees
- 255
Founders
Bugatti Rimac
Mate Rimac
Mate Rimac is a Croatian entrepreneur, born in Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina, who grew up partly in Germany before settling in Croatia.
Ettore Bugatti
Ettore Bugatti (1881 to 1947) was an Italian-born car designer who founded Automobiles E. Bugatti in Molsheim, Alsace, in 1909.
Pagani
Horacio Pagani
Horacio Pagani (born 10 November 1955 in Casilda, Argentina) is the founder and chief designer of Pagani Automobili.
CEOs and their tenures
Bugatti Rimac
- Stephan Winkelmann2018–2021
President of Bugatti (before the joint venture)
Led Bugatti under Volkswagen Group until the Rimac joint venture, then continued at Lamborghini.
Source - Mate Rimac2021–present
Chief Executive Officer; President of Bugatti Automobiles from September 2026
Leads both the Rimac Nevera and the Bugatti Tourbillon programmes, and founded and still runs Rimac Group as founder and president.
Source - Christophe Piochon2021–2026
President of Bugatti Automobiles and Chief Operating Officer of Bugatti Rimac
Spent 24 years at Bugatti, from quality director during the Veyron launch to president. Molsheim grew from about 70 staff in 2013 to nearly 200. He steps down with the 2026 leadership change and leaves on 31 October 2026.
Source - Hendrik Malinowski2021–present
Managing Director of Bugatti Automobiles; Chief Commercial Officer from 2026
Leads Bugatti's sales and customer side as the Tourbillon moves to deliveries.
Source - Marko Brkljačić2026–present
Chief Operating Officer
Takes over the operating role previously held by Christophe Piochon.
Source
Pagani
- Horacio Pagani1992–present
Founder, Chairman & Chief Design Officer
Founded Modena Design (1991) and Pagani Automobili (1992); designed the Zonda, Huayra and Utopia and led development of Carbo-Titanium composites.
Source
Timeline: Bugatti Rimac and Pagani side by side
1987Pagani
Horacio Pagani Builds Lamborghini Countach Evoluzione
Engineered the world's first carbon-fiber supercar chassis at Lamborghini using composite materials.
1992Pagani
Pagani Automobili Founded in San Cesario sul Panaro
Horacio Pagani established his own atelier to engineer the supercar of his dreams.
1999Pagani
World Debut of the Pagani Zonda C12 in Geneva
Unveiled the well-known Zonda at the Geneva Motor Show, powered by a Mercedes-AMG V12 engine.
2008Pagani
Invention of Patented Carbo-Titanium (Carbo-Triax)
Carbo-Titanium composite, which weaves titanium with carbon fiber, debuted on the Zonda R and Zonda Cinque.
2011Pagani
Launch of the Pagani Huayra with Active Aerodynamics
Debuted the Huayra featuring four independent active aerodynamic flaps and gullwing doors.
2021Bugatti Rimac
Bugatti Rimac begins operating: Rimac Group and Porsche AG launch Bugatti Rimac in November 2021, with Rimac Group holding 55 percent and Porsche 45 percent.
2021Pagani
Saudi PIF Becomes Minority Shareholder
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund agreed a long-term minority investment, reported at 30%; the Pagani family kept control.
2022Bugatti Rimac
Berlin design and engineering hub: Bugatti Rimac announces a Berlin hub run by a new German subsidiary, Bugatti Rimac GmbH, while keeping its headquarters and most staff in Croatia.
2022Bugatti Rimac
W16 Mistral unveiled: Bugatti shows the W16 Mistral at Monterey Car Week, a roadster limited to 99 cars and the last road car built around the W16 engine.
2022Pagani
World Premiere of the Pagani Utopia
Unveiled the third chapter of Pagani hypercars, featuring a gated 7-speed manual AMG V12.
2023Bugatti Rimac
Nevera sets 23 records in one day: The Rimac Nevera sets 23 acceleration and braking records in a single day at Automotive Testing Papenburg, including 0-400-0 km/h in 29.93 seconds.
2023Bugatti Rimac
Nevera production-EV Nürburgring record: The Nevera laps the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7:05.298, a record for a production electric car.
2023Pagani
Utopia Roadster Revealed
Open-top Utopia unveiled with the same 864 hp AMG V12 and optional manual gearbox.
2024Bugatti Rimac
Bugatti Tourbillon unveiled: Bugatti unveils the Tourbillon in Molsheim on 20 June 2024: a naturally aspirated 8.3-litre V16 engineered with Cosworth plus three electric motors for 1,800 PS, limited t…
2024Bugatti Rimac
Rimac Campus phase one complete: Rimac Group completes phase one of the Rimac Campus in Sveta Nedelja, a 75,000 m² production facility within a 100,000 m² site, with production already under way.
2025Bugatti Rimac
Bugatti's highest-volume year: Bugatti builds more cars than in any previous year, begins W16 Mistral deliveries, delivers the final Bolide and starts Tourbillon customer configurations.
2025Bugatti Rimac
Programme Solitaire and the Brouillard: Bugatti launches Programme Solitaire in August 2025, limited to two one-off cars a year, and shows its first creation, the Brouillard coupé, at Monterey Car Wee…
2025Pagani
Turnover Reaches €181 Million
Filed accounts show 2025 turnover of about $205M (€181.3M) and net profit of ~$54.6M (€48.3M).
2026Bugatti Rimac
Porsche agrees to sell its stakes: On 24 April 2026 Porsche signs agreements to sell its 45 percent of Bugatti Rimac and 20.6 percent of Rimac Group to a consortium led by HOF Capital.
2026Bugatti Rimac
La Manufacture opens in Molsheim: Bugatti inaugurates La Manufacture on 2 July 2026, a 3,245 m² building for Tourbillon production that raises capacity to up to 200 cars a year.
2026Bugatti Rimac
Porsche exit completed, new leadership: The sale closes on 9 September 2026 for about $1.13 billion (€1 billion).
2026Pagani
Pagani Residences Break Ground in Miami
Construction began in May 2026 on a 30-storey Pagani-branded residential tower in North Bay Village, Florida.
Acquisitions
Bugatti Rimac
- Porsche's 45% stake in Bugatti Rimac (bought by a HOF Capital-led consortium)2026$1.2B
- Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. (contributed to the Bugatti Rimac joint venture)2021Undisclosed
Pagani
No verified acquisitions are listed.
Questions about Bugatti Rimac vs Pagani
Who is the CEO of Bugatti Rimac and Pagani Automobili?
Bugatti Rimac is led by Mate Rimac and Pagani Automobili is led by Horacio Pagani. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Bugatti Rimac founded vs Pagani Automobili?
Pagani Automobili was founded in 1992 — 29 years before Bugatti Rimac, which was founded in 2021. Pagani Automobili's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Bugatti Rimac.
How many employees does Bugatti Rimac have compared to Pagani Automobili?
Pagani Automobili employs approximately 255 people. A verified employee count for Bugatti Rimac is not currently available.
Where are Bugatti Rimac and Pagani Automobili headquartered?
Bugatti Rimac is headquartered in Croatia and Pagani Automobili is headquartered in Italy. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Bugatti Rimac and Pagani Automobili?
Bugatti Rimac was founded by Mate Rimac, Ettore Bugatti. Pagani Automobili was founded by Horacio Pagani.
Which company has a longer operating history — Bugatti Rimac or Pagani Automobili?
Pagani Automobili has been operating for approximately 34 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Bugatti Rimac has been in operation for around 5 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Bugatti Rimac vs Pagani overview